Development of cold-hardy Cyrtobagous salvinia Calder and Sands for control of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in the US | W81EWF 20 SOI 0006

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0006

This funding opportunity, titled "Development of cold-hardy Cyrtobagous salvinia Calder and Sands for control of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in the US," is a discretionary research and development grant offered by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The program is set up as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than simply providing funds and waiting for a final report. The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology / Research and Development activity category and is listed under CFDA number 12.630, aligning it with defense-related research programs that also support environmental and operational priorities on military-managed waters and infrastructure.

The core purpose of the solicitation is to support work that improves biological control of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), a highly invasive floating aquatic fern that can form dense surface mats, disrupt waterways, degrade habitat, and interfere with water use and management. The biological control agent highlighted in the title is Cyrtobagous salviniae (Calder and Sands), a weevil widely recognized as one of the most effective biocontrol organisms for giant salvinia in warm climates. The focus here is on developing or identifying "cold-hardy" strains or populations of this weevil that can survive and remain effective in cooler U.S. regions or during colder seasons, addressing a common limitation of biocontrol programs where winter temperatures can reduce weevil survival and allow the plant to rebound.

Funding is relatively targeted and modest, indicating a pilot, proof-of-concept, or focused applied research project rather than a large multi-year program. The award ceiling is $90,000, with an expectation of one award. With only a single anticipated award, the solicitation is likely looking for a team that already has relevant expertise and capacity, such as experience rearing and evaluating C. salviniae, conducting cold-tolerance testing, running controlled experiments, and translating results into practical management guidance. The eligibility field is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement; in many Corps of Engineers research solicitations, this can include universities, nonprofit research institutions, private entities with appropriate expertise, or other qualified organizations depending on the specific wording in the full notice.

Key administrative details define the timeline and nature of competition. The opportunity number is W81EWF 20 SOI 0006, the notice was created on November 13, 2019, and the original closing date was December 12, 2019, indicating a relatively short application window typical of some applied R&D solicitations. Because it is a cooperative agreement, prospective applicants would usually be expected to propose clear technical objectives, measurable milestones, deliverables, and coordination plans with the agency, such as periodic technical meetings, progress reporting, and data sharing that helps the Corps apply findings to real-world giant salvinia management.

In practical terms, a project supported under this opportunity would be expected to advance the state of the art on making C. salviniae more reliable under colder conditions. That could include activities such as screening existing weevil populations for cold tolerance, selective breeding or colony development aimed at improved overwintering, laboratory and mesocosm trials that quantify survival and performance at lower temperatures, and field validation in sites where cold snaps or winter conditions historically limit control success. The larger management outcome implied by the announcement is improved, more geographically robust biological control of giant salvinia across the United States, reducing reliance on repeated mechanical removal or herbicide treatments and supporting long-term suppression of this invasive species in waterways of concern to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its partners.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of cold-hardy Cyrtobagous salvinia Calder and Sands for control of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in the US" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 13, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 12, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $90,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0006

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